ARSENAL SIGN THOMAS VERMAELEN

 

Arsenal have completed the signing of versatile Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax Amsterdam. The 23-year-old, who can play either centrally or on the left, passed a medical on Friday and will bolster a defence that came under fire from all quarters last season.

 

Arsenal have not disclosed the fee or the length of the 'long-term' contract, but Vermaelen's agent recently suggested a four-year deal had been offered to his client and reports estimate the transfer fee to be around £10m.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

FABREGAS TO STAY DESPITE ADMIRING GUARDIOLA

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas admits that Pep Guardiola is his idol. Though, he has received no contact from Barcelona. The Gunners midfielder has been persistently linked with a return to the Camp Nou, where he spent his youth career before moving to England in 2003.

Fabregas expressed that he is happy at Emirates Stadium, and hinted that working under former Barca midfielder and now manager Guardiola, would not be a totally unpleasant prospect.

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

ARSHAVIN'S AGENT DEMAND SALARY INCREASE

Andrei Arshavin's agent has called on Arsenal to increase the star's £80,000-a-week wage packet to compensate for tax increases imposed by the British government. Next April the top rate of income tax will rise from 40% to 50% and agent Dennis Lachter wants the Gunners to alter the terms of Arshavin's deal to compensate his client.

The Russia forward agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract when he signed from Zenit St Petersburg for £15m just four months ago.

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL